Container closure applying apparatus



Fe, 25, 1936, A. l. RlssER CONTAINER CLOSUREAPPLYING APPARATUS Filed Dc. 51, 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet l wf/vra@ ARM/M ,44 f e/ssE/e JW M@ Feb., 25, 193e, f A. l. `FUSSER 2,031,735

CONTAINER CLOSURE APPLYING APPARATUS Maw/R R/ssff? .aff I ,205,65 Z5 F6525, 1936,v f A. 1 RlssER 2,031,735

i CONTAINER CLOSURE APPLYING APPARATUS l Filed Dec?.l 3l, 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Feb. 25, 1936. A. l. Rlssl-:R

CONTAINER CLOSURE 'APPLYING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 31, 1934 7 sheets-sheet 6 ,W -mll- I Il "Y /M/E/vrof? ARTHUR @Assis-@ Feb., 25, ma A. l, RISSER @31,735

CONTAINER CLOSURE APPLYING APPARATUS l Filed Dec. 51,1934 7 sheets-sheet '7 EGW Ill ` /46 f5@ l//\/ n /E/v TOR.' ARTHUR R/ER Patented Feb. 25, 1936 PATENT QFFICE CONTAINER CLOSURE APPLYING APPARATUS Arthur I. Risser, Chicago, Ill., assignor to U. S.

Bottlers Machinery Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application December 31, 1934, Serial No. 759,930

Claims.

This invention relates to container closure applying apparatus or machines, and more particularly pertains to such .apparatus for applying screw caps to containers.

An object of the invention is to provide such a machine that Will be compact, durable and eiiicient, and wherein the capping of containers is accomplished expeditiously.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a machine with more eiiicient means for feeding caps to the capping mechanism of the machine without causing the disguration or m'arring of the caps.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a machine wherein the aforesaid objects are attained with the fewest number of operating parts.

The attainment of the foregoing objects is accomplished by certain improvements and or- 20 ganizations of elements or parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, and, upon reference thereto, other objects and advantage'smas well as certain novel features will become apparent, which novel features are deiined in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front view of the machine, with certain parts broken away and parts in section to disclose parts otherwise hidden.

Figure 2 is a detail plan section taken on the section line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan section taken on the Section line 3 3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a vertical detail section of the machine with parts broken away, as taken substantially on the section line 4 4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a detail plan section taken on the section line 5--5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a vertical section of the machine, as taken substantially on the section line 6-6 of Figure l with parts broken away and other parts omitted to clearly disclose more important parts.

Figure '7 is a view similar to Figure 3, in enlarged scale with parts in section and parts broken away to disclose parts otherwise hidden, and showing certain operating parts in changed position.

Figures 8 and 9, on the separate sheets, when taken together with the division lines 8'(l and 9a of the gures, respectively understood as matching, so that the parts above and below said lines respectively match, form a detail vertical central section of the machine as taken substantially on the section line 8-9 of Figure 7 with parts broken away and parts omitted.

Figure 10 is a plan section of the machine as may be understood as taken substantially on the section line Illl0 of Figure 8, with parts in 5 changed position, parts omitted and parts broken away.

Figure 11 is a detail section taken substantially on the section line I I-ll of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is an enlarged detail section taken 410 on the section line |2|2 of Figure 3.

Figure 13 is a detail section taken on the section line |3-I3 of Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a detail section taken substantially on the section line |4l4 of Figure 3 with T15 parts broken away.

Figure 15 is an enlarged detail section of a portion of certain capping apparatus, as illustrated in full lines in Figure 6, or the View may be said to be taken substantially on the Section .20 liney |5|5 of Figure 1.

Figure 16 is a vertical detail section of Figure l5 taken substantially on the section line |6-I6 of said figure with parts shown in changed position.

Figure 17 is a plan section of Figure I 5 as taken on the section line I'l-Il of said figure.

Figure 18 is a bottom view of the structure shown in Figure 15, with certain parts broken away.

Figure 19 is a view similar to Figure 18 showing parts in changed position, the View comprising a bottom View of the structure of Figure 16.

Figure 20 is a detail plan section of Figure 8, as taken substantially on the section 1ine.20-20 35 of said figure.

Figure 21 is a detail vertical section of Figure 8, as taken substantially on the section line 2 |2| of said ligure.

The structure illustrated, forming one embodl- 40 ment of the invention, includes a supporting frame or base in the form of a hollow upright circular pedestal i having a centrally open cover 2 suitably secured thereon upon which is supported, in spaced relation thereabove and coax- 45 ial therewith, a container support or table in the iorm of a substantially circular shelf 3 secured to the cover by posts 4.

The containers or bottles 5 to be capped are placed on a container feeding conveyor 6 in the 50 form of an endless link-belt of the cleated sprocket chain type, whose upper stretch moves toward and is in the plane of the top surface of the shelf 3 which is cut away, as at l, to accommodate said upper stretch. Each container is then conveyed by the belt into cooperative relation with transporting means which transports same over the the shelf in an arcuate path about the axis of the pedestal, during which time the container is capped by one of two capping devices or heads 8 disposed above the shelf. On continued movement of the container during transport, after being capped, it is deilected onto a container receiving conveyor II) in the form of a link belt similar to the conveyor 6, and whose upper stretch is in the plane of the shelf which is cut away, as as II, to acco-mmodate same, whereupon the capped containers are carried away from the machine.

The conveyors 6 and I0 are arranged respectively along the front and rear of the machine, and extending horizontally under the shelf to one side of the axis of the pedestal is a shaft I2 on which are sprockets I3 and I4 over which are received the conveyors 6 and I0 respectively, to be driven in unison. The shaft is mounted rotatably centrally in spaced bearings I5 of a bracket structure I6 secured to the base.

The conveyor belts E and ID extend from their driving sprockets to the left and right of the base, respectively, and the upper stretch of each belt is supported upon a horizontal guide structure ISa, mounted on a bracket IE5b on the base, and upon which is mounted guide rails Itc above the belt between which the containers are guided thereon. In that the outer end of each guide structure is not shown, it will be understood that on said outer end is provided an idler sprocket or other well known means for supporting the outer end of each belt.

For driving the conveyor shaft I2, as well as other mechanism, later described, a main vertical drive shaft I1 is disposed at rear of the machine, whose lower portion is rotatably mounted in a bearing I8 of a bracket I9 on the base I, and whose upper portion extends considerably upward to be rotatably received in a bearing 2B of a bracket member 2| secured on the top end Vof a stationary vertical column 22 in the form of a hollow shaft extending centrally upward of the base I which has 'a central bearing 23 in which the lower end or" the column is secured. The drive shaft I1 is in driven connection with a main drive shaft 24, through the intermediation of a suitable speed reducing device 25 mounted on the base I, and from which device the shaft 24 extends, and which device is in suitable connection with the shaft I1 through a common clutch device 26 controlled by lever mechanism 21 mounted on the base. The drive shaft I1 drives the conveyor shaft I2 through suitable gearing 28 arranged in a housing 29 on the base I.

The container transporting means includes a container positioning member 39 in the form of a cam wheel disposed above the shelf 3 and rotatably mounted on the central column 22, surrounding which is a sleeve 3l extending through an aperture in the shelf and on the top end of which is secured the hub 32 of the wheel. The cam wheel 3G has opposite container positioning pockets 33, which, upon counter clockwise'rotation of the wheel as seen in plan, are alternately brought into cooperative relation with containers being conveyed into the machine on the conveyor 6, to receive the containers. Upon being received in a pocket a container is held herein so as to be held from rotation, during application of a screw cap, by container engaging means or a clamping device 34 which i's caused to travel with the wheel during about one quarter of its revolution upon receiving a container, whereupon the device is operated to release the container, from which point it is deflected by a deflecting member 35 onto the receiving conveyor. The cam wheel is continuously rotated by the drive shaft I1 through intermediation of a spur gear 36 secured to the gear 31 mounted on the bottom end of the sleeve 3I Within the top of the pedestal I, and which gear 36 is in mesh with a spur gear 39 on the drive shaft I1. Secured to the gear 31 is a cover 31a which overlaps the cover 2 of the pedestal for enclosing the gears.

The container engaging or gripping means includes a head 39 in the form of an elongated block disposed in the plane of the cam wheel and guided to oscillate approximately 90 about the axis of the column 22 by means of an arcuately formed guide or cam 4I) mounted at one end upon the bracket IB on the side of the base and at its other end on a similar bracket iSd on the front of the base, and which cam has inwardly projecting upper and lower track portions 4I and 42 oppositely recessed to provide guideways within which are received, to be guided, rollers 43 rotatably mounted above and below the block 39 on pins 43a at both ends thereof. As best seen in Figures 12, 13 and 14, disposed inward of the block 39 and mounted adjustable toward and away from the axis of the machine is a container engaging member or jaw 44 in the form of a flat block, having secured to its outer face a friction member 45 of resilient material, such as leather or rubber, for engaging so as to hold a container in a pocket of the cam wheel. The engaging member 45 is resiliently supported on the head 39 through intermediation of an intermediate carrier block 46 recessed in its outer face, as at 41, to receive, guided therein, said member. To

Vfruther support the jaw on the carrier, the jaw has two pins 48 slidably received in the carrier and whose heads 49 limit outward movement of the jaw by engaging shoulders 5I! in the carrier.

The jaw is resiliently urged outward by means of compression springs 5I interposed between the jaw and carrier which are recessed to receive the springs. The carrier is supported on the head 39 so as to be adjustable toward and away from the container positioning member or cam to accommodate various sizes of containers, by means of two guide rods 52 extending from the carrier and which are slidably received in the head. Extending threaded through the head between the rods 52 is an adjusting screw 53 for adjusting the carrier and whose enlarged inner end portion 54 is confined for rotation in a recess in the carrier, by a plate 55 mounted on the carrier through which the screw passes.

As best seen in Figures 3, 7 and 10, the recessed portions of the track member 40 are concentric with the axis of rotation of the cam wheel, intermediate its ends within an arc of about 60, as indicated at B, Figure 7, and continuing from said arcuate portions toward each end tangentially of the arc outward of the machine axis, as at C and D, Figure '7. Thus, referring to Figure 3, when the head 39 is in its starting position opposite a pocket of the cam wheel when same is in cooperative relation to receive a container from the feed conveyor, the head is guided on the tangential portion C of the track portions 4 I -42 whereby it is caused to cant outward of the track, whereupon the head is retracted slightly, causing the retraction of the jaw so that the friction face thereof is disposed at such an angle to the incoming container on the conveyor 6 as to eifect camming same into the pocket of the cam wheel.

Upon said positioning of a container in the cam wheel pocket, the head 39 is caused to travel with the wheel upon the concentric portions of the track 40 whereupon it is urged inwardly causing the jaw to resiliently but rmly hold the container in the cam wheel pocket to prevent its turning during the capping operation (see Figure 7). On continued movement of the head with the cam wheel, to its nal position, after having traveled about 90, as seen in Figure 10, the head. is then disposed upon the tangential portions D of the track 40, whereupon it is again canted outward to cause the retraction of the jaw from pressure engagement with the container to permit same to be deected onto the receiving conveyor on continued rotation of the cam wheel. The head is then returned to its starting position to cooperate with the opposite pocket of the cam wheel.

The head 39 is oscillated upon the track 40 in timed relation with the cam wheel by an actuator such as a bell crank arm 56 whose hub portion 51 is pivotally mounted on the sleeve 3| below the shelf 3. The actuator arm has an arm portion 58 extending from its hub over the cover 2 of the base I and continuing into an upright portion 59 projecting beyond the edge of the shelf 3 and having an upstanding pin 60 received within a guide groove 6| in the bottom of the head 39 and extending radially of the machine axis, to permit radial movement of the head upon oscillation of the arm 56. The arm is oscillated twice upon a complete revolution of the cam wheel so that the head 39 alternately cooperates with the pockets 33 of the cam wheel. To this end, the gear device 31 with its cover 31a has slidably mounted' therein, on opposite sides of the axis thereof, two vertical pins 62 which extend therethrough, the pins being raised to engage the arm portion 58 of the arm 56 in effecting its connection with the gear device 31 to cause same to move therewith in causing the clamping head 39 to move with the cam wheel, by a stationary arcuate cam 63 mounted on the base (See Figures 8, 10 and 11.) Upon the arm 56 reaching its intermediate position, the pin 62 driving vsame is lowered out of contact therewith by two cams 64 mounted on the base and which engage on opposite sides of the enlarged head 65 at the bottom end of each pin. After said disengagement of the pin the arm is caused to move with the cam wheel by the clamping engagement of the jaw with the container positioned in a pocket of the wheel.

For retracting the actuator arm 56, the arm has an arm portion 66 on whose end is pivotally connected a link arm 61 having a hook portion 68 on its free end adapted to be engaged by a pin 69, depending from a disc 19 on the drive shaft I1, when same is rotating outward of the machine, thus causing the retraction of the arm. (See Figures 3, 4, 7 and 10.) As the pin 69 starts to rotate inward toward the machine it disengages the hook, which is caused to return to its initial position for engagement with the pin by the movement of the actuator arm with the cam Wheel. For maintaining the hook 68 of the link arm in the path of the pin 69, it is caused to move in an arcuate path about the axis of the drive shaft by a stationary arcuate cam 1| within whose arcuate cam groove 12 is guided a roller 13 centrally mounted on, so as to depend from, the link arm, the cam being secured at its ends on the base cover 2, as at 14--14.

The capping heads 8 and cooperating mechanism will now be described. Surrounding the central column 22, and spaced above the cam wheel 39, is a capping device mounting sleeve 15, connected so as to be normally stationary but vertically adjustable on the column by means of an adjusting screw shaft 16 centrally disposed on the column on which is a nut 11 having opposite wings 18 passing through elongated slots 19 in opposite sides of the column and being secured in opposite slots on the top of the sleeve by a ring nut 8| threaded onto the top end of the sleeve. The screw shaft passes through a bearing 82 at the bottom of the column and rests upon a thrust bearing 83 mounted on the base. 'I'he screw shaft is operated by a hand crank 84 mounted on a horizontal shaft 85 rotatably mounted on a bearing 86 in the base and on the end of the shaft 86 is a bevel gear 81 in mesh with a bevel gear 88 on the bottom end of the screw shaft.

Rotatably mounted on the supporting sleeve 15 is a capping device supporting member 89 lin the form of a gear through which are reciprocably mounted in vertical bearings 99, on opposite sides of its axis, two hollow spindles 9|, at the bottom `ends of which are mounted the capping devices 8. The spindles are arranged so as to be co'axial above the container positioning pockets of the cam wheel 39 and are rotated with the wheel by means of the gear 89 being in driven connection with a spur gear 92 on the drive shaft |1. The gear 92 is maintained in the plane of the gear upon adjustment of the heads with the carrier sleeve. by means of a gear casing 93 secured on the top end of the sleeve 15 around which is secured a depending sleeve po'rtion 94 of the top wall portion 95 of the casing. The shaft I1 extends through the gear casing 93 within a sleeve 96 depending from the bottom wall portion 96 of the casing and at the bottom end of which sleeve are opposed pins 91 received within the peripheral groove 98 in the hub 99 of the gear 92. The gear 92 is maintained in driven connection with the shaft |1 by means o'f suitable key connection with the elongated keyway |96 in the shaft. The spindles are continuously rotated for applying screw caps on the containers, during transport from the feed conveyor to the receiving conveyor, by means of a spur gear |II| mounted rotatably on the carrier sleeve 15, and which is in mesh with a smaller spur gear |92 in slidable key connection on each spindle. The gear |62 of each spindle is maintained in the plane of the gear |9| by being confined rotatably between the bearing 98 and a bearing block |63 mounted on the gear Il and through which the spindle also passes. The gear |ll| is driven for rotating the spindles, by the drive shaft l1 on which is a spur gear |04 conned rotatably in the casing 93 and in suitable key connection with the keyway |09 of the shaft. The gear |94 is in gear connection with a spur gear |65 secured on the top end of a sleeve |96 extending from the hub portion |91 of the gear lill, through the intermediation of suitable speed and direction controlling gearing |98 mounted within the casing 93.

Generally, each spindle is caused to be lowered in bringing its capping device into cooperative relation over a container upon same being positioned in a pocket of the cam wheel, in which position the device remains during transport of the container over the shelf, then the device is raised off the container upon application of the cap, whereupon it is again lowered slightly into cooperative relation with a cap feeder means |09 for receiving a cap preparatory to another operation.

Each spindle is operated to be raised positively and resiliently lowered through intermediation of an operator head I I0 carried on the spindle which projects through a bearing portion III)a in the head. The head IIO is carried on the spindle so as to be resiliently depressible thereon, by means of its spring pressed engagement with the under Side of the collar |I|lb xed on the spindle. The operator head is spring pressed against the collar by means of a compression spring I I0c surrounding the spindle and interposed between a washer |I0d under th head and the top of the capping head on the spindle.

On each carrier head are guide rods I I I extending upward on opposite sides of the spindle to be reciprocably mounted and projecting through the gear 89, the bearing portion S0 and the block |03 of the gear whereby the carrier head is held non-rotatable with respect to the gear 89. 'I'he carrier heads of the spindles are raised and lowered for operating the spindles, by a drum shaped cam I I2 secured stationary on the lower end of the carrier sleeve 75, and which cam is connected to operate the carrier heads by means of a roller II3 mounted on each head being received within the peripheral cam groove |I4 in the cam.

Referring to Figures 15 to 19 particularly, each capping head includes a hollow chuck head II5 disposed at the end of its respective spindle coaxial therewith and being frictionally connected thereto by means of a friction clutch device IIS. To this end the chuck head has secured to its top end a sleeve III within which is rotatably mounted the lower end of the spindle by means of a ring nut I I 8 threaded into the top end of the sleeve and a ball bearing II9 confined between the ring nut and a peripheral flange |20 on the lower end of the spindle. The clutch head sleeve is frictionally connected to rotate resiliently with the spindle by means of a cupped shaped collar |2I which is slidably keyed, as at |22, with the bottom end of the spindle, and which surrounds the clutch sleeve II'I with an annularly flanged bottom |23 for pressure engagement with a friction ring |24, of such material as leather, which is maintained on the peripheral central ange |25 of the clutch sleeve. The cupped collar I2| is maintained in pressure engagement with the friction ring 24 by means of a coiled compression spring |26 surrounding the collar and interposed between its flanged end and the inner top flange I2'I of a housing sleeve |28 threaded onto the peripheral flange |25 of the clutch sleeve II'I The chuck head has an enlarged hollow concentric bottom end I I5a within which is mounted a screw cap chuck |30 including a plurality of annularly arranged closely adjacent cap gripping members such as jaws I3I, whose inner surfaces |32 are of cylindrical formation so as to snugly surround a screw cap |33 whose skirt is of cylindrical form. The jaws are carried on a chuck bottom portion |34 comprising a cylindrical head reciprocably mounted in the chuck head bore portion |35, and having a peripheral flange |36 received within a groove |31 in the inner side of each jaw, whereby the jaws are carried on the bottom portion so as to be movable to expanded and contracted relations with respect to each other respectively loosely but snugly receiving and gripping a cap. The jaws are contracted for gripping a cap on the downward movement of the bottom portion, by a ring cam |38 mounted within thelchuckhead portion I I5a so 'as to surround the jaws and having a downwardly converging conical inner cam surface |39 with which the outer surface |40 of each jaw is correlatively formed. The bottom portion is operated by an operator stem or pin I4I resiliently connected therewith, which is reciprocably mounted in the upper reduced portion |42 of the chuck head, and being limited for reciprocation by means of a cross pin |43 extending therethrough and projecting through opposite slots |438L in the reduced portion. The pin I4| is resiliently connected with the bottom portion to cause the jaws to resiliently grip a cap on the downward movement of the pin upon being operated by means later described. To this end, the pin I4I extends down into the bore |44 of the bottom portion with an enlarged bottom end I 44a held resiliently against the shoulder |441)` in said bore by means of a compression spring I44c coniined between said enlarged end and a plug |44 threaded into the bottom end of the bottom portion bore.

Means is provided on each capping head for picking up a cap when the head is in cooperative relation with the cap feeding means, and supporting same loosely but snugly centrally confined within the jaws of the head during its movement from the feeding means to a container on the conveyor 6, and until the threaded neck of the container slightly projects into the cap. The means includes a group of resilient members |45, in the form of fingers, preferably four, .arranged about the chuck head, with which head they are in cooperative pivotal connection, and having inturned bottom portions |46 extending under the chuck head to terminate in tapered ends |4'I whose top tapered surfaces |48 cooperate to provide a tapered seat for the edge of a cap confined in the chuck, whereby the cap is centered therein.

The fingers are carried on the chuck head so as to be rotatable therearound and reciprocable as a group with respect thereto, which reciprocable movement of the iingers is controlled by the pin I 4| so as to cause the cap supported on the inward extensions of the nngers to move down with the jaws upon application thereof. To this end, the ngers extend upward from their bottom portions about the enlarged lower end |I5a of the chuck head, then continue angularly inward to extend through radial slots |50 of a finger carrier in the rotatably upon the reduced upper portion |42 of the chuck head, by means of a split collar |54 slidably received on the reduced portion and on which split collar the disc collar is rotatably mounted so as to rest upon the lateral shoulder or flange |55 thereof. Surrounding the reduced upper portion |42 of the chuck head II5, is a compresssion spring |55a which is interposed between the split collar flange |55 and the shoulder |56 of the chuck head for resiliently holding the chuck |30 and the resilient ngers in raised position in relation to the chuck head. The chuck is thus held in raised position by reason of the lateral pin |43, of the chuck operating pin I4 I, being extended to engage in recesses |51 in the top edge of the opposite halves of the split collar, whereupon the pin |43 is held by action of the spring |553, against the top end of slots |43a in the chuck head.

Referring to Figure 16, it will be seen that when the chuck operating pin I4 I is moved downward, in lowering the jaws so as to cause the operation 1 chuck, fed therein by means di ation of the head occurs by the cam track portion thereof, the fingers are moved downward in unison therewith through intermediation of the pin |43 and the split collar |54.

For resiliently urging the ngers inward, an endless coiled tension spring |58 surrounds the fingers below their pivots, and each finger having a recess |59 for receiving the spring, the fingers being limited for inward movement, so that their tapered ends project slightly under a cap, by engagement with the side of the chuck head.

For protection from possible damage, the iingers are surrounded by a housing |60 in the form of a sleeve of thin metal which is mounted on so as to depend from the disc collar |5|.

' Referring to Figures l, 3 and 6, it will be seen that when a container has been received within a pocket of the cam wheel 30 the capping head thereover has been lowered by the cam track portion |6| of the cam |2, until the cap |33 in the later described, is disposed over the container neck |63 so that the neck slightly enters the cap. (See Figure 15). At this point the chuck |30 is caused to grip the cap, by lowering of the pin |41, which chuck, on

continued movement of the head with the cam wheel, and downward movement of the capping head to the lower cam track portion |64 of the cam I2, screws the cap down on the container. (See Figure 16). The completion of the capping operwhen the container thereunder reaches a position just prior to being released by the clamping device 34, whereupon the chuck |30 is released from the cap by raising of the pin i4 and the capping head is then raised |65 of the cam ||2, to its uppermost position, in which position it is shortly held by the cam track portion |66 of said cam. The capping head is then lowered slightly by the cam track portion |61 of the cam ||2 to be brought into cooperative relation with the cap feed device |09, later described, then raised again to a position just below its uppermost position, controlled by the cam track portion |68, of said cam, until it is again lowered upon a container by the action of the cam track portion |6| of the cam.

For operating the pin |4| to cause the application of the chuck |30 to grip and release a cap in the chuck during said movement of its respective capping head upon a container, a rod |69 is slidably mounted within each spindle, and Whose lower end is in contact with the top end of the pin |4| in the chuck head, and whose upper end is in cooperative connection with an operating device |10, on each spindle, for depressing the rod to cause the operation of the pin |4|. The device |10 includes a bearing member |1| mounted on the top end of each spindle, and confined between two collars |12 on the spindle so that the spindle may rotate in the bearing. The bearing has a lug extension |13 through which the reduced end portion |14 of one of the guide rods of the carrier head extends to maintain the bearing non-rotatable with re- 'spect to the carrier head. On the reduced end portion of the guide rod extension |14 is pivotally mounted a bell-crank lever |15 within Whose forked bearing portion |16 the lug |13 of the `bearing |1| is received to cause the lever to be raised and lowered with the spindle.

The bell crank lever |15 has an arm portion |11 extending over the top end of the rod in which is mounted a ball bearing member |18 engaging a cam |19 on ating the rod upon oscillation of the bell crank.

the arm portion for oper-k The bell crank lever |15 is oscillated at the proper time to cause the application and release of the chuck |30 upon the orbital movement of its capping head, by means of a cam |80 in the form of a drum mounted on the depending sleeve extension |8| of the lower portion of the gear casing which surrounds the gear hub extension |10. The other arm portion E62 of the bell crank has a roller |83 maintained in operative engagement with the periphery of the cam by a tension spring |84 connecting between said arm portion and the bearing |1|.

In the event a caphas not been applied during the capping operation of either head, due to the absence of a container thereunder, the cap is released from the chuck by operatic-n of the resilient fingers upon the head reaching its uppermost position during its orbital movement, so as to clear the chuck for the reception of anothei cap from the cap feeding means |09. To accomplish this, the means associated with each capping head includes a cam-collar |86 reciprocably mounted on the sleeve extension ||1 below its flange |25. The cam-collar has a lower internal conical cam surface |81 for engagement with the upper end projections |06 of the fingers |45 when lowered for contracting same in causing the expansion of the lower portions |46 thereof in releasing the cap.

The cam collar is operated by a yoke |90 disposed thereabout on which are opposite pins |9| engaged in the peripheral groove |92 in the collar, which yoke has two upright guide rods |93 extending upward through, so as to be reciprocable, in the carrier head H0 of each capping head, and on the top end of which rods are mounted a cross piece |94 for engagement with a tension spring |95 interposed between the cross piece and the carrier head for resiliently holding the cam collar |86 in raised position against the shoulder |96 of the sleeve ||1. Referring particularly to Figure 6, it will be seen that when a cap-ping head is in its uppermost position during its orbital movement, controlled by the cam track portion |66 of the cam H2, the upper ends of the guide rods |93 are engaged with the lower surface portion of the supporting gear 89, thus holding the cam collar |06 depressed for causing the operation of the lingers |45 to release a cap.

The cap feeding means |99 will now be described. Referring to Figures 3, 4, 6, '7, 8 and 9, with particular reference to Figure 8, when one of the capping heads 8 is in its lowermost position, during the capping operation thereof, the opposite capping head 8, is caused to be lowered slightly by the cam depression |61, of the cam ||2, into cooperative relation with the cap feeding means to receive a cap, as briefly mentioned in the foregoing. The cap feeding means includes a horizontally rotating cap feeder head 200 in the form of a disc, depending fro-m whose centrally recessed housing portion 29| is a hub 202 for mounting upon the top end of a rotating hollow shaft 203 vertically disposed alongside the shelf 3, and mounted, so as to be vertically adjustable, in an elongated bearing 204 of a bracket 205 secured to the base On opposite sides of the axis of the disc are disposed radial slides 206 in the form of short rods reciprocably mounted in guideways or radial bores 201, in the disc, which extend from the housing portion 20| thereof. Each guideway 201 opens into a narrow slot in the top of the disc 200 through which projects an upstanding cap carrier in the form of an upright pin 208 having an enlarged head 209` upo-n which is adapted to be placed a threaded cap by cap supply means 2| 0, later described, upon rotation of the feeder head. As the feeder head 200 is rotated in the opposite direction to the direction of orbital movement of the capping heads, each slide 206 is actuated by a cam 2| mounted stationary within the disc housing portion 20|, for causing its respective cap carrier pin 208 to move with a capping head coaxial therewith, during a given interval of its orbital movement about the axis of the column 22, so that the cap holding fingers |45 of the capping head will ride over the cap on the pin in maintained axial alignment upon lowering of the head thereover to insure engagement of the lingers under the edge of the cap, and thus cause same to be held in the chuck of the head upon being raised off the carrier pin. SaidV movement of each cap carrier pin as controlled by the cam 2|| in indicated in dot and dash lines Fin Figure 7, the portion F of the said dot and dash lines indicating the path of the cap carrier in its movement about the axis of the center column 22 so as to be maintained in coaxial alignment with a capping head during its engagement there* with in the feeding of a cap thereto.

The cam 2|| is in the form of a disc disposed in the housing portion 20| of the feeder head 200, and having a cam groove 2|2 within which is received a roller 2|2a secured on the inner end of each slide 206. The cam is mounted xedly on the top end of a stationary shaft 2| 3 extending through the feeder head shaft 203 and being secured at its bottom in a cross head 2|4 which also forms an end support for the feeder head shaft 203.

The cap feeder head 200 is rotated in unison with, but in opposite direction to, the orbital movement of the capping heads by means of a spur gear 2| 4a mounted on the shaft 203 of the cap feeder head, in sliding key connection therewith, and meshing with the spur gear 31 of like size provided on the sleeve 3| of the cam wheel 30. The gear 2|4a is maintained in the plane of the gear 31 by being conned between the.

bearing 204 of the bracket 205 and a bearing 2 Mb mounted on the extension 2 I4c of the bracket 205.

The cross head 2|4 is reciprocably mounted upon two guide rods 2|5 depending from the bracket 205 on opposite sides of the shaft 203, and being connected at their bottom ends by a cross piece 2|6. The cross head is actuated to raise or lower the feeder head 200 in adjusting same upon adjustment of the capping heads, by operable connection with the adjusting screw 16. To this end, as best seen in Figures 1 and 4, the cross head has `a lateral extension 2|6 with a threaded vertical bearing 2 I1 in threadedY engagement'with a vertical adjusting screw 2|8 whose top end is rotatably mounted in a bearing 2| 9 of the bracket 205, and whose lower end is rotat- .ably mounted on a bearing 220 on the base I. The adjusting screw 2|8 is rotated for raising or lowering the cap feeder headin unison with similar adjustment of the capping heads, by means of suitable gearing 22| operably connecting the bevel gear 88 of the screw 16 with the adjusting screw 2|8.

There are many types of cap supplying devices which may be employed for supplying caps to the pins 208 of the feeder head 200, instead of the form herein disclosed. The form illustrated includes a magazine 222, withinA which the screw cans are guidedin uniformedgewise single order,

and hasan upright upper portion 223 continuing downward into an angular bottom end portion 224, inclining downward over the path of the pins 208.

The end cap in the magazine is resiliently held in the bottom end, and, is disposed angularly so that its open side is in the path of a head of a pin 208 to be engaged thereby and carried positioned thereon from the magazine.

The means shown for resiliently holding the end cap in the magazine includes two spring nngers 225 secured on opposite sides of the magazine and having padded ends beyond the end to engage on opposite sides of the cap. The bottom wall 226 of the magazine bottom end is recessed inward of the end, as at 221, to enable passage of the head of a cap carrier pin into the end cap to be fed thereon. The top side 228 of the magazine continues beyond the bottom end into a horizontal tongue extension 229 under which the end cap rides upon being carried on a carrier pin from the magazine, whereby the cap is positively centered on the pin.

The magazine is mounted on a bracket 230 secured to an upright 23| mounted vertically adjustable in a pedestal 232.

The magazine may extend upward to a suflicient height for accommodating a considerable supply of caps, or cap sorting and feeder means may be employed in association with the magazine for maintaining a supply of caps properly positioned therein, such as disclosed in my Patent No. 1,775,141 of September 9, 1930, assigned to the U. S. Bottlers Machinery Company, Inc.

Certain structure relating to the cap applying chuck in connection with which the present invention forms one embodiment, forms part of the subject matter of my copending application, Ser. No. 704,619, led December 30, 1933, in which application said structure is broadly disclosed and claimed.

Certain structure relating to the container transporting means forms the subject matter of my copending application, Ser. No. 20,208, led May 7, 1935, in which said structure is broadly disclosed and claimed.

What I claim is: l

1. In a screw capping machine, means for placing a screw cap over a container having a threaded open end whereby one partially enters the other loosely and centrally therewith, and means operative upon said placing of the capl for screwing same down onto the container, wherein the rst mentioned means includes a group of resilient members having 'portionsl formed to loosely support the cap about the bottom edge thereof so as to centrally locate same with a container, said members having portions formed for cooperating with the top edge of a cap in effecting movement of the members in permitting entry of the cap between the membersiin. positioning same upon said support portions, and.

means for causing relative movement ofthe cap and members to cause said entry of the cap.

2. Inv a screw capping machine, means for placing a screw cap over a container having a threaded open end whereby one partially enters the other loosely and centrally therewith, and means operative upon said placing of the cap for screwing same down onto the container, wherein the rstmentioned means includes a group of an.- nularly arranged pivotally mounted Ydepending ngershaving inturned bottom portions with ends taperedto support the cap about its bottom aesinet.

edge and means for resiliently urging the fingers inward.

3. In a screw capping machine, means for placing a screw cap over a container having a threaded open end whereby one partially enters the other loosely and centrally therewith, and means operative upon said placing of the cap for screwing same down onto the container, wherein the first mentioned means includes a group of annularly arranged pivotally mounted depending lingers having inturned bottom portions, said bottom portions having inner ends provided with upper and lower converging cap engaging surfaces upon the upper of which the cap is adapted to be supported, and the lower of which surfaces is adapted for camming engagement with the top edge of the cap in spreading the fingers to permit entry of the cap therebetween in the feeding of same to the upper surfaces, and means for relatively moving a cap and said ngers to feed the cap between the ngers.

4. rIhe combination with a machine of the class described for applying threaded caps having cap feeding means and a cap applying chuck including contractable cap gripping means arranged normally to` freely receive a cap therein and being movable into and out of cooperative relation with the feeding means to receive a cap, of means for engaging under the cap for holding same in the gripping means when same is in cooperative relation with the feeding means.

5. In a machine for applying threaded caps, a cap applying device including contractable cap gripping means adapted normally to freely surround a cap, means for engaging the cap to hold same freely within the gripping means, means for causing relative movement of a container and said gripping means to establish initial cap applying relation therebetween, and means operable upon the establishment of said cap applying relation for applying said gripping means, wherein said cap holding means includes a group of circularly arranged cap engaging ngers mounted rotatably around said gripping means.

6. In a machine for applying threaded caps, a cap applying device including contractable cap gripping means adapted normally to freely surround a cap, means for engaging the cap to hold same freely within the gripping means, means for causing relative movement of a container and said gripping means to establish initial cap applying relation therebetween, and means operable upon the establishment of said cap applying rela- '.tion for applying said gripping means, wherein said cap holding means includes a group of circularly arranged cap engaging ngers pivotally mounted about and arranged to be rotatable around Vsaid gripping means, and means for resiliently contracting the fingers.

'7. In a machine for applying threaded caps, a cap applying device including cap gripping means adapted normally to loosely surround a cap, means for engaging the cap to hold same within the gripping means, means for causing relative movement of a container and said gripping means to establish cooperative relation therebetween, and means operable upon the establishment of said cooperative relation for applying said gripping means, wherein there is a rotating hollow head within which is arranged the gripping means and wherein the cap holding means includes a group of fingers arranged about and in cooperative pivotal connection with the head and having free ends projecting under the gripping means to support the cap.

8. In a machine for applying threaded caps, a, cap` applying device including cap gripping means adapted normally to loosely surround a. cap, means for engaging the cap to hold same within the gripping means, means for causing relative movement of a container and said gripping means to establish cooperative relation therebetween, and means operable upon the establishment of said cooperative relation for applying said gripping means, wherein there is a rotating hollow head within which is arranged the gripping means, wherein the cap holding means includes a carrier member loosely mounted upon the head an-d a group of lingers arranged about the hollow head being pivotally mounted on the carrier and having free end portions projecting under the gripping means to support the cap.

9. In a machine for applying threaded caps, a cap applying device including cap gripping means adapted normally to loosely surround a cap, means for engaging the cap to hold same within the gripping means, means for causing relative movement of a container and said gripping means toV establish cooperative relation therebetween, and means operable upon the establishment of said cooperative relation for applying said gripping means, wherein the gripping means includes a plurality of circularly arranged jaws, wherein the cap holding means includes a group of movable lingers in cooperative connection with the jaws to project thereunder to supporta cap thereand wherein the applying means includes a ring portion surrounding the jaws, said ring and jaws arranged for limited relative axial movement and having cooperating cam formations operable upon said movement for applying the laws.

l0. In a machine for applying threaded caps, a cap applying .device including contractable cap gripping means adapted normally to freely surround a cap, means for engaging the cap to hold same freely within the gripping means, means for causing relative movement of a container and said gripping means to establish initial cap apply-- ing relation therebetween, and means operable upon the establishment of said cap applying relation for applying said gripping means, wherein the cap holding means includes a group of annularly arranged inwardly and outwardly movable cap holding members having inner portions formed to provide a tapered seat for the edge of the cap within the gripping means, and means for resiliently urging the members inwardly.

11. The combination with a machine of the class described having cap feeding means, a container support and a cap applying chuck adapted normally to loosely receive a cap, and being movable into cooperative relation with a container on the support to apply the cap thereto, of mechanism for loosely supporting the cap` in the chuck during said movement of same, wherein said mechanism includes a group of annularly arranged inwardly and outwardly movable cap supporting members having inner portions formed to effect movement of the members by the cap upon its entry into the chuck when same is brought into cooperative relation with the feeding means and being formed to provide a tapered seat for the cap in the chuck, and means for resiliently urging the members inward.

12. In a machine of the class described, a rotating spindle, cap gripping means connected at the end of the spindle for limited axial movement with respect thereto and adapted to snugly receive a skirted cap therein, a carrier member operably connected with the gripping means for axial movement therewith and rotation about the spindle axis with respect thereto, means carried by said carrier for resiliently supporting a cap in the gripping means and means operable upon said axial movement of the gripping means for applying same to the cap.

13. 'I'he structure as defined in claim 12, wherein the cap supporting means includes a group of resilient fingers mounted on the carrier for resiliently engaging the cap.

14. The structure as defined in claim l2, wherein the cap gripping means includes a group of annularly arranged jaws and wherein the means for applying the jaws includes a cam operably connected with the spindle and cooperating to contract the jaws upon axial movement of same.

15. The structure as deiined in claim 12, wherein the cap supporting means includes a group of resilient fingers mounted on the carrier and having inwardly projecting ends for supporting the cap, wherein the cap gripping means includes a group of annularly arranged jaws and wherein the means for applying the jaws includes a cam operably connected with the spindle and cooperating to contract the jaws upon axial movement of same.

16. In a capping head of a machine of the class described, a hollow chuck head, a stem slidable within the head, a group of cap gripping jaws loosely carried on the stem, a cam surrounding the jaws and connected with the head for operating the jaws upon axial movement of the stem, a carrier member mounted on the chuck head for rotatable and axial movement and being connected to move with the stem, and fingers carried by said carrier for engaging the bottom edge of a cap within the jaws.

17. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a capping head having cap gripping means adapted to normally loosely receive a cap prior to applying same and having means `for supporting the cap within the gripping means, of means for operating said supporting means to effect the ejection of the cap in the event same is not applied by the head.

18. The combination with a machine of the class described, having a container support, cap feeding means, a capping head having cap gripping means adapted normally to loosely receive a cap prior to application of same and having releasable means for supporting the cap within the gripping means, said support, feeding means and head arranged for relative movement whereby cooperative relation is established between the head and feeding means for placing a cap Within the gripping means, then cooperative relation is established between the sup-port and the head for applying a cap to a container, of means for operating the supporting means prior to the establishment of cooperative relation between the head and the feeding means to effect the ejection of the cap in the event same was not applied by the head.

19. In a machine of the class described, a capping head movable to raised and lowered positions and having cap gripping means adapted normally to loosely receive a cap therein intermediate said positions and adapted to apply same when in its lowered position, releasable means for supporting a cap within the gripping means, and means operable upon the head being moved to raised position for operating the supporting means to release a cap, in the event same was not applied by the head.

20. The combination with a screw capping machine having cap feeding means and cap applying means with contraotable cap gripping means arranged normally to freely receive a cap therein, said gripping means and feeding means arranged for relative movement into and out of cooperative relation in feeding a cap to the gripping means, of means for engaging under the cap for holding same in the gripping means when same is in cooperative relation with the feeding means. l

ARTHUR I. RISSER. 

